Council plan to acquire land for pedestrian bridge on Ardmore Road

Westmeath County Council have made an order for the compulsory purchase of land to facilitate the construction of a pedestrian and cycle bridge next to Saunders Bridge in Mullingar.

The council have made an order which is being submitted to An Bord Pleanála for confirmation.

If confirmed, the council will be authorised to acquire 0.17 hectares (0.42 acres) of land described in a public noticed published in this week’s Westmeath Examiner as ‘unfenced open green space and road bed’ in the townland of Ballinderry.

The owners, lessees and occupiers of the land will receive written notice of the council’s plan.

Interested parties can make an objection to An Bord Pleanála by Friday May 12 next.

The planned pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Royal Canal and Dublin to Sligo Railway is at Saunders Bridge adjacent to Ardmore Road, Mullingar.

The proposed scheme includes a suspended bridge deck and landing, bridge support structure, approach walk and cycle ways, revised landscape area, cycle balustrades and ancillary works.

The bridge will have a span of 40m and will be 3m wide.

The proposed development is adjacent to two protected structures – the bridges over the canal and railway.

On their website, the council say the proposed scheme has undergone Appropriate Assessment Screening under the Habitats Directive(92/43/EEC) and screening for Environmental Impact Assessment under the EIA Directive 2014/52/EU.

“It has been determined, following a preliminary examination, that there will be no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment, arising from the proposed development, and therefore an Environmental Impact Assessment is not required.”

Copies of the order and maps will be available at Áras an Chontae, Mullingar from April 17 to May 12, and on the council website.